Over 38 percent of the continental U.S. is in a drought and more than 87 million Americans are living in drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. This is the highest percentage since the 40% recorded in May 2014. The worst conditions are being seen in the southern and western parts of the country.[1]

Reported by the USA Today, meteorologist Richard Heim cited that nearly all of the major winter storms have mostly bypassed the West, meaning that much-needed mountain snow has not fallen. Currently snow sensors installed across the Sierra Nevada range have revealed that snowpack is just 30% of the average for this time of year. The state of the winter snowpack has climate scientists and water agency managers referring to the situation as a “snow drought”, due to the above average winter temperatures.[2]

As a result, areas such as the southern plains have been hit especially hard. In Amarillo, Texas, no measurable precipitation has fallen for a record 111 days, according to the USA Today’s report. With no rain, the agricultural industry has been hit especially hard. Pasture conditions throughout Oklahoma have deteriorated rapidly, with 79% percent of the winter wheat crop rated in poor to very poor.[3]

In California, which just emerged from an epic four-year drought, 44 percent of that is now categorized as being in a moderate drought. This is an exceptional growth from last month when the figure was just 13%.[4]

Looking forward, the Climate Prediction Center is expecting the drought to persist or intensify over the next several months. “The general trend of increasing drought coverage should continue through the end of April, as most areas of drought are expected to persist,” the Climate Center said in a press release.[5]